The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, has banned the church pastors from allowing invited preachers and guest speakers who are not recognised members to mount pulpits.

In a January 5 memo titled ‘Invitation of Guest Ministers in RCCG’, signed by the Special Assistant to the General Overseer (Admin), Oladele Balogun, Mr Adeboye also warned that violators of the directive will be sanctioned.

The memo was sent to continental overseers, deputy continental overseers, assistant continental overseers, and pastors of regions and provinces worldwide.

It read, “We refer to our memo dated December 14, 2023, with Ref: RCCG/ADM/OAB/JP/MEMO/14/12/2023 on the above subject matter, and wish to inform you that the General Overseer has issued a further directive that no external preacher, speaker or minister should be permitted on any of our altars or platforms.

“Anyone intending to invite a guest minister, speaker or preacher to their parish must ensure that the individual is a recognised member of RCCG.

“We wish to reiterate that any minister(s) who violate the above directives will face severe disciplinary measures and may be relieved of their ministerial duties in the mission.

“Kindly inform all and sundry of the above directives, which take immediate effect.”

When contacted by Peoples Gazette via a phone call on Monday, the admin office of the RCCG national headquarters explained that the directive became imperative to prevent the preaching of doctrines alien to the church and to avoid polluting it with “heresy and fallacy.”

The admin officer, who sought anonymity, said the directive referred to ordained pastors in all parishes, zones, provinces and regions.

He said, “Everything about the memo is authentic; it’s from the mission. We’re referring to our pastors ordained in the mission in our parishes, zones, areas, provinces and regions. It’s not for outsiders but for the children of Daddy G.O. who are pastors in the mission that no outside minister should be allowed to minister so that they will not come and pollute the church with their heiress and fallacy.

“Thank God the mission is a disciplined church, and our ministers are adherents to correction. I know none of our pastors are rebellious, and they will act to what has been said.”